Peyton Kemp won’t be changing her school colors once she makes the transition from high school to college athlete.

The orange and blue she’s been sporting since her first days playing field hockey at Delmar will carry over as she makes the six-hour trip north to New York after graduation to become a member of Syracuse’s hockey program.

“It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s really bittersweet,” Kemp said. “I’m excited, and I know that my family is excited for me and my coach. It definitely took a little weight off my shoulders finally getting it over with.”

Kemp, the reigning Delaware field hockey Player of the Year, is the latest in a long line of Wildcats to commit to a Division I school, as the Wildcats have remained one of the most dominant teams in the state throughout the last several years.

Throughout Kemp’s time at Delmar, the forward has been a pivotal part in Wildcats’ offensive attack, which has racked up a DIAA state championship, three championship appearances and five DIAA tournament runs since Kemp joined the team.

Kemp’s head coach, Jodi Hollamon, said the senior’s biggest contribution to the team has been her ability to find the back of the net quickly, while also being influentual as a leader and good teammate.

“She’s not just a great field hockey player, she’s a role model,” Hollamon said. “All the players look up to her, she brings intensity to practice every day and she’s just a natural field hockey player. The skill she has is magical.”

Regardless if Kemp gets another championship, she will have a future on one of college’s biggest stages.

The Orange are a member of the ACC and made it to the NCAA tournament in 2017. An overtime loss to No. 3 Michigan sent Syracuse home early, but it was the overall vision that the team has that originally attracted Kemp to the program.

“The coaches and the players are definitely like family around there just like we are here, and they know the game of field hockey, and they know the goal like we do,” Kemp said. “We have a goal here, so I just felt like I would fit in there, and that’s where I wanted to be.”

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Delmar's Peyton Kemp signs her National Letter of Intent on Nov. 14, sending her to Syracuse after graduation.(Photo: Staff Photo by Richard Pollitt)

Growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Kemp said she would miss the beach and warm weather, but she doesn’t think the cold temperatures will bother her throughout the winter months.

Although she knows life in Syracuse will be different to what she’s accustomed to, Kemp is simply focusing on excelling on the field and in the classroom, and making her former teammates proud.

“I know that my teammates will be watching me, hopefully on TV when I get there, so I know they’re still going to be watching me, rooting for me and wishing me the best of luck like they did when I was here,” Kemp said.

With her natural skills and ability to adapt to any situation, Kemp looks primed to succeed at the college level, but as her coach, Hollamon believes there are a few aspects the star player needs to improve on before making the jump to the next level.

“She needs to get physically stronger, and she will tell you that too,” Hollamon said. “That comes with a Division I program where you’re going to be lifting and physically training year-round. Once she gets the physical part of it, she’s going to be a player to really watch in the future.”

Hollamon’s advice and guidance have been what Kemp credits her success to.

The longtime Delmar coach has sent several players to the college level, and when she looks back at her time with the Wildcats, Kemp doesn’t believe she would be headed to Syracuse had it not been for the support of Hollamon.

“None of us who have gone to college from here would have made it without Hollamon,” Kemp said. “I just feel like she’s impacted the team and all the players individually in a specific way. She knows how you should be playing, she knows what the standards are, and she’ll give it to you.”

Although she will have a different coach and different teammates come next fall, Kemp is confident her time at Delmar has given her the experience and knowledge needed to succeed at Syracuse.

“When I made the team in eighth grade, I was definitely very nervous – I didn’t know what to do with myself,” Kemp said. “I’ve always strived to be a role model to my younger (players), and I feel that I’ve made a good impact on the team.”

Other signings of note

Several other seniors continued to make their college choices official around the state, including William Penn’s Alyssa Armor (Delaware track and field), Sanford’s Andrew Brooks (Kutztown wrestling), Tower Hill’s Danny Dougherty (Villanova golf), St. Georges’ Rachel Seiverd (East Stroudsburg softball) and Middletown’s Joyce Keller (Florida Southern lacrosse).